11 April 2018

EXAMINATION CIRCULAR
NUMBER 11 OF 2018

DISTRIBUTION
 Principal Directors
 Head Office Directors
 Provincial Education Directors
 ZIMSEC Regional Office
 Head Office Deputy Directors
 District Schools Inspectors
 Schools Inspectors
 Heads of Primary Schools
 Heads of Secondary Schools
 Heads of Correspondence and Independent Colleges
 Staff Associations
 Zimbabwe Teachers Union
 Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe
 Teachers Union of Zimbabwe
 Zimbabwe Democratic Teachers Union
 Rural Teachers Association of Zimbabwe
 Association of Trust Schools
 Responsible Authorities
 Church Education Secretaries

SPECIMEN PAPERS FOR THE UPDATED CURRICULUM

This circular is accompanying specimen papers for the updated curriculum. It also serves to
give guidance on the November 2018 Ordinary and Advanced Level public examinations
in selected learning areas under the following groupings:
 Sciences
 Technicals
 Humanities
 Commercials
Except for practical and technical subjects, the November 2018 public examinations shall not
include continuous assessment.

Traditionally, practical projects/course work has been carried in practical and technical
subjects. For the November 2018 examination, centres are still required to submit projects to
ZIMSEC as specified in this circular.

Where there are no specimen papers provided, the examination format is as in the old
curriculum.

ORDINARY LEVEL SUBJECTS

SUBJECT NAME SUBJECT CODE NOTES

Biology 4025/3 Practical Test

All these Science practical components
Chemistry 4024/3 Practical Test are compulsory for all candidates
except those exempted due to special
Combined Science 4003/3 Practical Test needs.

Physics 4023/3 Practical Test

Art 4060/4 Project 30% The project sent for Continuous

Assessment in third term 2017 should
be submitted for marking together with
the other two practical components.
Centres will be advised of submission
dates in due course.

Computer Science 4021/4 Project 30% The project sent for CA in 2017 should
be submitted to ZIMSEC by 26 October
2018.

4021/3 Practical Test Changes were made in the syllabus so

that there is only one paper instead of
4021/3A or 4021/3B.

Commercial Studies 4065/2 Project The project sent for CA in 2017 should
be submitted to ZIMSEC by end of
second term 2018.
SUBJECT NAME SUBJECT CODE NOTES

Sociology 4045 Correction on scheme of

assessment in the syllabus on
instructions and time allocation:

Paper 1 (2hrs 30 minutes)

There are 10 structured questions
and candidates are required to
answer five questions. Each
question carries [20 marks].

Paper 2 (2 hrs)
Paper 2 consists of essay questions.
Candidates answer 4 questions.
Each question carries [25 marks]

History 4044/02: Regional and The following structural changes

International History should be noted in the above
mentioned paper:
The paper now has 20 questions
instead of the previous 15.

Question 1 is now on the Slave

Trade and not on the causes of the
First World War.

Building Technology 4052/3 Design Project 30% The design question sent for
and Design continuous assessment should be
completed by end of August 2018
and be ready for marking in
October 2018 at the centre.

Technical Graphics 4057 No project to be submitted to

and Design ZIMSEC. A specific circular shall
be sent to centres to give further
guidance.
SUBJECT NAME SUBJECT CODE NOTES

Agriculture 4001/3 Project 30% The projects for these components

that were sent to schools as
Design and 4053/2 Design Project 50% continuous assessment must be
Technology submitted for marking by the end
Metal Technology and 4055/3 Design Project 20% of second term 2018.
Design
Wood Technology and 4059/3 Design Project 20%
Design
Textile Technology 4058/3 Project 20%
and Design
Theatre Arts 4063/3 The syllabus, with regards to this
component, states that
performances for this component
should be between 8-10 minutes.
The examination time allocation
has been changed to 5-10minutes.
ADVANCED LEVEL SUBJECTS

SUBJECT NAME SUBJECT CODE NOTES

Art 6029/3 Project 30% The project that was sent for
Continuous Assessment in third
term 2017should be submitted for
marking together with the other
practical component. Centres will
be advised of submission dates in
due course.

Biology 6030 All these Science subjects offer a

compulsory Practical Test.
Chemistry 6031

Physics 6032

Geography 6037

Computer Science 6023/3 Project 30% The projects for these components
that were sent to schools as
Software Engineering 6044/3 Project 30% continuous assessment must be
submitted to ZIMSEC for marking
Food Technology and 6036/3 Project 15% by 26 October 2018.
Design
Home Management 6038/3 Project 15%
and Design
Textile Technology 6069/3 Project 15%
and Design
Design and 6005/4 Design Project 20%
Technology
Wood Technology and 6027/4 Design Project 20%
Design
Metal Technology and 6040/4 Design Project 20%
Design
SUBJECT NAME SUBJECT CODE NOTES

Technical Graphics 6047/3 Product Design 20% This is going to be taken under the
and Design supervision of the teacher during
term 3 of Form 6, between
September and November. The
question papers will be sent to
schools by the end of second term
2018.The details of conducting the
examination will be spelt out in the
examination circular that will
accompany the question papers.

Theatre Arts 6026/1. This paper originally was allocated

a time of 3 hours. Please note that
the Examination time allocation
has been reduced to 2 hours.
6026/2
This was also originally allocated a
time of 3 hours. This paper should
now be written in 2hours 30
6026/3 minutes.

Candidates were originally

expected to prepare a performance
that would last between 25-30
minutes. This time has been
reduced to 10-15 minutes.

E. Masiri (Mrs)

ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – TEST DEVELOPMENT, RESEARCH AND

EVALUATION
ZIMBABWE SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
/SK
C:\MYDOCUMENTS\EXAM CIRCULAR NUMBER 11 OF 2018